from Bonnie in Edgerton, WI:
#100
My refrigerator is from 1982, but it still operates very well. Is it worth it to replace it with a new refrigerator?
It is always a good idea to replace old refrigerators!
Yes, new refrigerators and freezers are dramatically more efficient than old models – even when the old models operate perfectly. In addition, since refrigerant wears out and seals start to leak, refrigerator and freezer performance tends to degrade over time. While the exact energy use depends on your particular model number, on average refrigerators manufactured before 1993 cost over $50 more per year to operate than new ENERGY STAR qualified models. Refrigerators manufactured before 1980 cost about $150 more per year!
If you know the model number of your refrigerator or freezer, you may want to use the ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator to get a better idea of the relative operating cost of your current model in comparison to a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. While this tool may not include every model ever made, it does include data for a very large number of refrigerators and freezers.
Published Thursday, April 16, 2009